Optical Processor For The Very Large Array (VLA) Radiotelescope: System Concept

I. Cindrich; C. C. Aleksoff; J. R. Fienup; L. E. Somers

doi:10.1117/12.958831

22 August 1980 Optical Processor For The Very Large Array (VLA) Radiotelescope: System Concept

I. Cindrich, C. C. Aleksoff, J. R. Fienup, L. E. Somers

Proceedings Volume 0231, 1980 Intl Optical Computing Conf I; (1980) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.958831
Event: 1980 Technical Symposium East, 1980, Washington, D.C., United States

Abstract

Optical Fourier transform processing of radiotelescope visibility function data is reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the aspects of the processor design that arise from the unusual characteristics of the data. The complex visibility function is available only over a partially filled aperture consisting of a set of elliptical paths. It is recorded at the input to the optical processor on a carrier frequency as a real nonnegative transmittance. Since a bipolar sky brightness function output is to be computed, the output of the optical Fourier transform channel is mixed with a reference beam and the difference is taken of two successive measurements differing in reference phase by 180°. Experimental results demonstrating processor concepts are shown and a processor system design approach is described.

Citation Download Citation

I. Cindrich, C. C. Aleksoff, J. R. Fienup, and L. E. Somers "Optical Processor For The Very Large Array (VLA) Radiotelescope: System Concept", Proc. SPIE 0231, 1980 Intl Optical Computing Conf I, (22 August 1980); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.958831

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